Method and apparatus for handling materials

ABSTRACT

A system for handling a large variety of different items to provide automatic price and inventory information. Each different kind, type and size of items or goods carried, for example, in a retail store are separately marked with a distinctive visible coded indicia with only like items bearing like indicia and all like items bearing identical indicia. Control means are provided for applying to a converter having memory means each of the different coded indicia for storage in the memory means thereof and the control means also applies a separate and variable price corresponding to each coded indicia to the converter for storage in the memory means thereof with each price being related to the corresponding coded indicia. A register is provided for registering the coded indicia of items distributed as by sale or the like and for applying such indicia to the converter. The converter includes means for receiving the registered indicia and establishing identity between the instantly registered indicia and previously stored indicia as well as output means for producing the price corresponding to the stored indicia that is identical to the registered indicia. Means are also provided for recording the registered coded indicia and the corresponding price of each registered coded indicia.

United States Patent Howard et a1.

[ 1 3,688,087 51 Aug. 29, 1972 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 3,002,1819/1961 Parsons ..235/61.11 X late 1243:: as: salsa-1 m1 mph Howard, 657Blair 5035264 5/1962 8.113213131111131: ..35/'6l.9

Piedmont, Calif. 94611; William M.

ry xammer aynar 1 ur Ormda Cahf' 94563 Assistant ExaminerRobert M.Kilgore [22] Filed; Aug, 2, 1968 Attorney-Gregg and Hendricson [21]Appl. No.: 749,815 57 ABSTRACT Related US. Application Data A system forhandling a large variety of different items to provide automatic priceand inventory information. [63] $52 5 2: $3 2 22 June Each differentkind, type and size of items or goods r carried, for example, in aretail store are separately marked with a distinctive visible codedindicia with [52] fi j g j i only like items bearing like indicia andall like items 51 I t. Cl. ..G06k 1/12, G1 1b 5/02, 606k 7/10 g ff g iig fg [58] Flew of Search"235/94'14 6111 each of the different codedindicia for storage in the 235/61'9 61 R; 340/1741 174'1 memory meansthereof and the control means also applies a separate and variable pricecorresponding to [56] References Clted each coded indicia to theconverter for storage in the UNITE memory means thereof with each pricebeing related D STATES PATENTS to the corresponding coded indicia. Aregister is pro- 3,111,576 11/1963 LiPSChUtZ ..235/6l.l1J vided forregistering the coded indicia of items dis- 3,121,159 2/1964 Rogal..235/61.6 tributed as by sale or the like and for applying such in-3,277,445 10/1966 Diamant ..235/61.9 dicia to the converter. Theconverter includes means 3,348,027 10/1967 Wallace ..235/6l.9 forreceiving the registered indicia andestablishing 3,355,576 11/1967Childers ..235/61.7 identity between the instantly registered indiciaand 3,414,731 12/1968 Sperry ..250/219 previously stored indicia as wellas output means for 0d t d i th t d 1,801,981 4/1931 Rogal ..235/61.6pfi' utcgg ishlgeplrcgl cignt'telsepplgigtlegreg inficsaorlsiealgs 2 353002 7/1944 Armbruster 235/61 8 2746679 5/1956 Stratum "235/6l'6 are alsoprovided for recording the registered coded indicia and thecorresponding price of each registered 5332'33 241222 22:12: 2151-711coded 2:919:851 1/1960 Otis. ..235/61.9 mmrmmm 2,981,936 4/1961Buhrendorf ..340/l74.1 H

49 1 com 527i! mvrw4 TOTAL/25E M/PUT 01/7 07 9 /6- METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR HANDLING MATERIALS This is a continuation of Application Ser.820,670, filed June 16, 1959, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improved method and 5 tion furtherencourages same by tain by purchase the necessities and luxuries ofpresent day civilization. In this flow of consumer goods, there isincluded a tremendous amount of handling and rehandling of same, andparticularly at the ultimate distribution point is there involved amaximum degree of manual manipulation of the myriad items normallystocked by retail outlets. Individual manual handling is required forevery separate item of goods in a retail store for the stocking ofshelves, price marking of the items, registering and accounting each ofthe items sold, and periodic inventories of the stock. In the sale ofitems alone, there is involved a multitude of manual operations which ishighly inefficient from the viewpoint of the operator, undesirable asregards the time delay occasioned the purchaser, and quite costly forthe store owner. A substantial bottleneck in the flow of consumer goodsresults from the conventional methods of handling same. The presentinvention is directed to the removal of certain of the above-notedimpediments in the flow of commerce by the provision of improvedhandling methods and apparatus for materials such as packaged items andthe like.

The present invention is particularly directed to the minimization ofthe manual operations involved in the flow of goods from the ultimatemanufacturer or distributor to the consumer. Although a wide variety ofapplications of the present invention are possible, in the interests ofclarity of disclosure there is herein chosen a single application of theinvention wherein same has particular and outstanding utility. Thus,consider, for example, the instance of a retail grocery store wherein avery large variety of separate items are normally stocked for sale tothe consumer public. Such items are conventionally received in crates orcartons containing a plurality of like items. It is normally necessaryin the stocking of the store facilities for operators to open thecartons or crates of individual items and to remove each separate itemtherefrom and to place same individually upon the display shelves andstacks of the store. During this stocking operation of the displayshelves, it is also normally necessary for the operator to transcribe aprice upon each separate item in order that the checkout personnel mayappropriately register and charge the customer for the item purchased.Not only are the foregoing manual manipulations normally required in thestocking of store facilities, but also it is periodically necessary toremove certain groups of the individual items of their particular classfrom the display shelves and stacks of the store in order to revise theretail prices thereon, inasmuch as such retail prices normally fluctuateduring the period in which an individual item is stocked in the store.Because of the necessary handling of each item, and quite oftenrehandling thereof, it is common for goods to be stocked upon shelvesupon shelves rather than in floor displays in order to minimize themanual effort involved in the stocking of the store. While this'type ofshelf display has certain advantages, numerous disad vantages alsoattach thereto. For example, shelf displays are not as economical offloor space as floor displays, and thus the maximum stocking of thestore in accordance with the floor space available is not possible ofrealization with conventional shelf stocking. Although floor stocking isknown, the present inveneliminating certain disadvantages thereof.

In addition to the above-noted manual manipulations involved in thestocking of the individual items upon shelves of a retail grocery store,there is also involved the manual operations of checking-out the itemsat the time of purchase thereof. It is conventional for a singlepurchaser to gather together a substantial number of different itemsfrom the store display for purchase at a single time, and it isnecessary for the checkout personnel to examine each of the individualitems in order to find the price marked thereon and to then enter thisprice upon a conventional cash register which is operable to produce asum total of the prices registered thereon. It will be readilyappreciated that this checkout procedure has various serious drawbacksincluding the inefficiency of the required searching for the pricewritten upon the individual item and the often encountered difficulty indeciphering such price. Furthermore, the purchaser is provided with onlya list of prices and no indication of the individual item to which theypertain other than the bag or box of groceries which has been purchased.In addition to the foregoing, there is involved a requisite periodicinventory of the goods stocked in the store, and it is normally requiredthat this inventory be carried out during a period in which the store isclosed to customers. Not only is the process of taking inventory atime-consuming one wherein a large amount of employee time is consumedin individually counting the items in stock upon the shelves, but alsothe necessary period of closure of the store is highly undesirable fromthe sales standpoint.

The present invention obviates in whole or in part substantially all ofthe above-noted difficulties evolving from the repeated handling ofindividual items in a store or the like as is conventional. Inaccordance herewith, the individual items need not be separately placedupon shelf displays within the store nor need they be individuallymarked as to the retail price to be charged in such store. By theremoval of these requirements it becomes possible to employ both shelfand floor displays wherein a maximum utility of the available store areamay be achieved. Not only is the manual labor of affixing individualprice markings to each separate item in the store herein precluded, butalso the former difficulties of searching for and deciphering the pricemarkings upon individual items at the checkout stand is likewiseprecluded. It is herein possible to rapidly and efficiently record theindividual items being sold and to produce an itemized list of suchitems together with the separate prices therefor with a total priceindication for provision to the customer. Handling procedures arethereby materially speeded up with a substantial saving in time andexpense, as well as the provision of improved service to the purchaser.Along with this efficient price, stocking, and sale of items, there isprovided for the automatic and continuous inventory of items stocked andsold so that the previously required expensive inventory procedures areno longer necessary. Not only is the expense of conventional inventorytaking precluded, but also there is provided a substantial continuousinventory check which is available as a guide to reordering and as anaid in determining the advisability of stocking or restocking particularitems.

As a further portion of the present invention, there is providedsemi-automatic accounting apparatus particularly adapted to theutilization in the material handling method of this invention. Althoughit is possible to employ other apparatus to this end, particularadvantage is attained by the utilization of the herein disclosed itemaccounting and pricing apparatus. In brief, such apparatus includes aregister for recording coded indicia of each item handled, such codingforming a part of the item label. Such recorded indicia areautomatically and electronically compared to the indicia for each itemstocked to the store and retained upon a memory unit having the storeretail price associated with such indicia. As a result of thiscomparison there is produced, preferably in printed form, a visualindication of the code and the price associated therewith together witha total of such prices. The memory unit aforementioned is adapted toreceive and retain at the store coded indicia for each of the itemsstocked therein, together with the price to be charged therefor at suchstore. Control over the information provided such memory unit isafforded at the store itself. In addition to the foregoing, there isprovided a totalizer which continuously counts and records the number ofeach coded item registered as sold so that there is provided a runninginventory of items sold to thereby provide the store operator or managerwith full and continuous information, not only upon the total storeinventory, but furthermore upon the relative sales of particular itemsstocked. The apparatus hereof is adapted for operation with a largeplurality of separate registers and read-out or printing units. Only asingle memory unit is herein required to operate a large number ofcheckstand units so that a minimum expense is involved in theinstallation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved method and apparatus for handling materials in which theabove-noted difficulty of material handling is substantially overcome.

it is another object of the present invention to provide an improved andsimplified method and means for the pricing of items.

It is another object of the present invention to materially reduce themanual handling operations involved in the commercial flow of individualitems such as packages and cans or the like, as is conventionallyexperienced in the warehousing, storage, and sales operations of suchitems.

'vide for the material speedup of the movement of goods into and out ofconcentration and distribution points therefor.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide for therecording of the inventory of materials such as packaged and canneditems in warehouse, storage and retail outlet areas to maintain acurrent record of the inventory of each item handled.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide apparatusfor registering code markings of items for comparison thereof withcorresponding prices for such coded items and to provide from suchcomparison both the identifying code marking and corresponding price inprinted form together with a totalization of the prices registered.

Various other possible objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription of the method and apparatus of the present invention.Although the invention is hereinafter disclosed in connection withparticular application thereof and in terms of specific steps andmechanical embodiments in the interests of clarifying the disclosure, itis not intended to limit the invention to the precise terms of thedescription, and instead, reference is made to the appended claims for aprecise delineation of the true scope of the present invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the method of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a simplified circuit of the presentinvention as illustrated in greater detail in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the circuit of the present inventionillustrated in block form in FIG. 3.

Considering first the improved method of handling material in accordancewith the present invention and referring first to FIG. 1 of thedrawings, there is shown a plurality of items 11 such as, for example,grocery store merchandise. These items 11 are indicated at 12 as flowingpast a check point such as, for example, the conventional check outstand of a retail store, Upon each of the individual items 11 there isprovided a code marking, as indicated by the rectangle 13 thereon. Suchcode markings 13 are applied to the individual items at a conspicuouspoint thereon, as upon the item label. Each different kind and type ofitem has a separate code indication affixed or attached thereto, andthese code markings are preferably supplied by a central agency to themanufacturer and are printed as a part of the item label. Thus, forexample, in the processing of canned vegetables, the processing agencywill affix labels to the cans identifying the contents thereof for theconvenience of the ultimate purchaser and such labels will include acode marking appropriate to the particular contents of such can.Separate code markings are provided for each different type of vegetablecanned, size, and grade of vegetables canned, and size of package or canin which such vegetables are preserved. Consequently, each individualitem that may possibly have a different price or which for any reasonmay be considered to be in some manner different from other itemsdistributed and sold will have a different code marking thereon.Listings of code markings and items corresponding to each are providedby the above-noted central agency to the user, such as retailers.

In the instance of the utilization of a method of the present inventionin a retail grocery store, the flow of items 12 will normally occurthrough a checkstand of the retail outlet, and at such point there isprovided an input-output unit which may be broadly considered as aregister 14. This register 14 includes an input unit 16 having thereon acode keyboard wherein the code markings upon the individual itemsflowing past the register maybe manually or otherwise registered asinput signals. In connection with the register 14 there is provided aconverter unit 17 which receives the coded input signals from the inputof the register 14. This converter 17 includes a memory function and isadapted to receive and retain corresponding gate and price indicia froma control unit 18 and operates to produce an output signal comprisingthe code input from the register 14 together with the correspondingprice which has been previously inserted and retained by the converter.The output of the converter 17 is applied to an output unit 19 of theregister 14. This output unit may visually indicate both the codemarking and corresponding price, and also preferably provides a printedrecord of same together with a totalization of the prices of all of thecode input for an individual transaction. By the utilization of theabove-noted code markings upon each of the individual items flowing pasta check-point, it is possible for an operator to easily identify theindividual item by the code markings upon the items and to operate theinput keyboard to insert such code markings into the register 14. Thecode markings are formed of sufficient size and colors and are sopositioned upon the individual items as upon the labels thereof, thatthey are very readily seen by the operator so that the identification ofsuch code markings is materially simplified. Also, the one handling theitems may remember the code markings, as same do not change for any oneitem, rather than prices thereof which continually change. With theinsertion of such code markings into the input 16 of the register 14,there automatically is produced at the output 19 of this register notonly the corresponding price of such code marking but also the codemarking itself. From the output of the register 14, there will be seento be produced a record not only of the individual prices and a totalthereof but also, a corresponding identification of the item to whichthe price corresponds. In contrast to conventional checking techniques,the method hereof is materially simplified, for the person handling theoperation need only enter the readily visible code markings to produce acomplete record of the sales transaction. Not only is the visibility andlegibility of the entry upon the item materially improved overconventional practices wherein such as grease pencil writing or the likeis employed, but furthermore the burden of remembering individual pricesis removed from the operator. Although an individual item will alwaysarrive at the checkout point with the same marking thereon, it is hereinpossible to change the price corresponding thereto in accordance withlocal desires by utilizing the control unit 18 which may be located inthe vicinity of the handling operation, such as for example, within theretail outlet. Complete control over the ultimate prices is therebyafforded to the retailer in the above-described example of theinvention. In addition to the simplification of the handling operation,there is produced a materially improved record of the transaction, forthe printed record includes the item identification with correspondingprices so that the purchaser or receiver of the items may personallycheck the inventory of goods handled at a later date. As applied to saleoperations, such as for example, retail grocery stores, it will be seenthat the above-described method provides a material simplification andspeedup over conventional handling operations. Various burdens areremoved from the persons involved in the handling operation andtransferred to apparatus and circuitry which is not subject to humanerror. Various other side benefits are also achieved by the utilizationof this method for price marking of items within the retail outlet isherein precluded. It is only necessary when utilizing this method ofhandling materials for the retailer to provide a single price indicationfor a large plurality of identical items stocked, as by signs or thelike, and no separate manual handling of each item for the applicationof the price marking thereto is required.

As a further portion of the method described above, there may beprovided for the continuous totalizing of items handled. To this endthere may be provided a totalizer 21 that may physically form a part ofthe converter but which is shown connected to the output 19 of theregister 14. This totalizer 21 operates to provide a running count ofeach code marking registered so that there is provided a continuousinventory of items handled. With an initial inventory of stock, thiscontinuous inventory of items subtracted therefrom will provide anup-to-date total inventory of stock on hand. This serves to remove thenecessity of periodic and time-consuming manual inventories of stock andthus consequently provides a material advantage in the handling of itemsor goods.

- Considering now a circuit adapted to perform certain of the functionsset forth in the method above, reference is made to the single linediagram of FIG. 2 wherein there is illustrated a block diagram of such acircuit. In order to minimize the complexity and cost of the circuitryemployed in the present invention, there may be utilized a largeplurality of individual registers 14 with a single converter and controlmeans. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, a number of registers 14 are shownconnected to a scanner 26 which serves to relay input signals from theregisters 14 to the remainder of the circuit and also to return outputsignals to the registers 14 therefrom. Inasmuch as the converter andother portions of the circuit hereof operate extremely rapidly toproduce desired output signals in response to particular input signals,it is possible to receive input signals from a plurality of registersand to operate thereon with a single converter and associated circuitry.This feature provides a substantial saving in the complexity andresultant cost of the present invention. The scanner 26 supplies codesignals to an item register 27 which operates to compare the input codesignals to each of the item codes upon the converter 17. This converter17 includes a memory unit, as described below, upon which there isimpressed corresponding code signals and price signals in orderedsequence. Upon the coincidence of a code signal on the converter with anitem code on the item register there is transmitted from the convertersignals including both the code signal and price signal. This outputfrom the converter 17 is applied to a price register 28 which onlyregisters price signals corresponding to coincident code signals. Amultiplier circuit 29 is connected to the price register 28 to multiplythe price register information by the number of items of the particularcode signal handled so that the output of the price register, as appliedto the scanner 26, includes a total price for the complete number ofparticular code items entered in the input of the register 14. Thescanner 26 periodically connects each of the registers 14 to the itemand price registers so as to thereby return price information to theseregisters for indication at the visual and printed output thereof.information is originally applied to the converter 17 by a control meansor circuit 31 which preferably contains at least a price keyboard and itmay also contain a code keyboard to apply signals to the converter forretention thereby. The converter 17 may also be provided with priceinformation corresponding to a plurality of items sold for a combinedprice. To initially apply code and price signals to the converter or tochange the price of an item code already retained by the converter, thecontrol unit 31 is employed. With this control unit 31 including both aprice and code keyboard, the item code word is set up on such keyboardand is applied to the converter which searches for same in the retentionportion thereof. At the same time the item code is set up on the controlkeyboard, the price is likewise set up upon the price keyboard thereofso that if the item code is found in the converter, the price signal isapplied to the converter at exactly the same point in the cycle ofscanning thereof. if the item code is not found in the converter, theitem code and the price information are both recorded upon the converterat an empty memory slot therein. The control circuit 31 is preferablyalso supplied with readout means such as the output portion of theregister 14. Thus the control unit 31 may be employed to determine theprice of any particular code by entering the code upon the code keyboardthereof and reading the price indicated at the output portion of thecontrol unit. Additionally, advantage may well lie in the provision of acomplete readout feature wherein a single switching operation providesfor the recording at the control unit of all information retained by theconverter.

An inventory control feature may also be incorporated in the circuit ofFIG. 2, and such is therein indicated as a quantity register 32. Anoriginal number of each of the code items may be inserted in thequantity register and by connection of the register to the output of theconverter 17 there will be provided at the register an indication ofeach of the code items handled. A subtracting circuit 33 connected tothe quantity register then subtracts the number of each code itemhandled from the total number provided the register so that the registerat all times reads the total remaining number of code items. There willthus be seen to be provided a continuous running inventory of stockitems which is available at the quantity register 32.

Operation of the circuit of FIG. 2 is accomplished by the entering ofcode markings from individual items handled upon the registers 14. Thescanner 26 operates to successively connect the item and the priceregister successively to each of the registers 14. At the time anindividual register 14 is connected through the scanner to the itemregister the converter unit 17 successively compares code markingsthereon with the code at that time carried by the item register, and atthe same time the price register may read each price corresponding tothe code markings being compared. The price register may successivelyerase each price reading until the comparison being carried out betweenthe converter and item register produces an identity; at this point theprice register fails to erase the reading and consequently passes sameback through the scanner to the corresponding register 14 from which theoriginal code was received. Rapidity of operation is enhanced by theprovision of means for producing a multiplying action in the priceregister 28 so that it is possible to enter upon the input of theregister 14 a code marking and a number corresponding to the number ofitems of such marking which are being handled. The price register 28then operates to multiply the price retained thereon by such number toprovide through the scanner a total price corresponding to the number ofcode items handled. As regards the time of operation, a completecomparison of a code marking from the item register with all codemarkings retained by the converter 17 may be accomplished in a minuteportion of a second. With the converter 17 including a rotating magneticdrum memory unit, the speed of rotation may be 3,600 rpm so that ascanning of the entire code system therein retained may be accomplishedin one-sixtieth 'of a second. Inasmuch as this comparison operationtakes such a small period of time it is thus possible for the system tobe operated with a large number of registers 14. The speed of entry ofcode indicia upon these registers 14 is limited by manual dexterity ofthe operator and can hardly exceed ten code indicia per second so thatadequate time is available for the connection of a large number ofregisters through a single scanner to the above-described circuit. Nonoticeable delay is realized at the registers 14 by the connection of aplurality thereof to a single converter. A wide latitude of controloperations is herein possible and the system lends itself admirably tothe utilization of automatic control means. For example, it is possibleto employ punch cards containing price and code information which maythen be inserted in the control unit and then automatically serve tosupply such punched information to the memory portion of the converter17. In this manner the possibilities of human error and the degree ofclerical work involved are materially minimized. Likewise, the output ofthe system may be supplied to other locations besides the registers 14.Thus, for example, information as provided at the quantity register 32may be automatically transfered as by telephone line to a distantcontrol and accounting station and from which there could be calculatedthe rates of turnover, effects of price changes, profits on each itemand total profits, as well as a multitude of basic information uponwhich operating decisions could be based. The availability of suchinformation at all times certainly leads to more well founded decisionsregarding the handling of items in S65E35 a large system of retailgrocery stores. l

The circuit illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing does not specify unitswhich would normally be included in order to change the codes employedand the decimal system employed to the binary code which would normallybe utilized in the memory portion of the converter 17. Substantiallyconventional circuitry may be employed in the blocks illustrated in thecircuit of FIG. 2, although advantage lies in the utilization ofparticular circuitry set out in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing. As regardsthe particular code markings to be applied to the individual items whichare handled and recorded in accordance herewith, there may be employed asystem of alphabetical letters, a system of numbers, a system ofhieroglyphics, or a combination thereof. The use of an alphabetical codehas certain advantages inasmuch as an operator would readily recognizethe individual letters of the code and thus experience less difficultyin depressing the appropriate keys upon the input keyboard of theregister 14.

There may be employed an item code utilizing 24 letters of the alphabet.Each item code word may consist of five of these 24 letters and withthis code arrangement there are some 7,962,624 different codecombinations. This number most certainly is adequate to provide for allof the items available from all of the manufacturers in one field ofcommerce with adequate allowance for unused or obsolete items. The codeand price indications may be recorded upon a rotary magnetic memory drumwhich may, for example, be rotated at 3,600 rpm. As regards the requiredsize of such a drum, a binary system of recording is conventional andsome 23 circumferential columns on the drum would be adequate to recordthe above-noted code combinations with some 8,200 longitudinal rows uponsuch drum. Recording of prices from zero to $9.99 would require an extracircumferential columns on the drum and provision for the indication ofcombination prices may raise the total number of columns to 36. Such adrum would provide for the recording to some 300,000 bits of informationas a maximum capacity thereof. The provision for recording inventoryinformation upon the memory drum would further increase the necessarystorage total thereupon, and information on about 2,000 units of each ofsome 8.000 items possibly stocked would require the addition of about 11more columns on the drum to provide a total of 47 thereon. This wouldthen provide for the drum to record and retain about 4,000,000 bits ofinformation. Such memory drums are quite conventional and may becommercially obtained. Such a drum might have a diameter of about 26inches and a length of about 8 inches. As regards the operator, anexperienced keyboard operator could hardly depress the keys faster thanten per second and with the depression of five keys for each code plusone further key for the number of items of such code, a complete entrycould only be made every six-tenth second by a single operator. Duringthis time a drum rotating at 3,600 rpm would have rotated 36revolutions, and, inasmuch as each bit of information is available onceeach revolution of the drum, some 36 operators could utilize a singledrum of this type.

It will beappreciated that various control circuitry is associated withthe block components of the circuit of this invention and a further andbetter understanding of the circuitry of the present invention may beobtained by a consideration of the simplified illustration thereof inFIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. In the interests of simplicity theembodiment depicted therein does not include connections for a pluralityof separate registers 14 and associated scanner 26 for individually andconsecutivelyconnecting the registers to the memory and control portionof the circuit. Additionally, the automatic inventory circuitry iseliminated from the circuit diagram of these figures in order to moreparticularly point out therein certain portions of the present invention which might otherwise be obscure. As may be seen from FIG 3 of thedrawings, the converter portion of the circuit includes a memory unit 51together with associated writing unit 52 and reading unit 53. Thismemory unit may include a conventional magnetic memory drum of the typecommercially available and the associated writing and reading units arealso normally provided by manufacturers of the memory drums. The circuitbasically includes a code input keyboard 54 together with a mechanicallyconnected printer 56. By the utilization of a single unit embodying boththe code input keyboard and printing unit, it is possible to providemechanical interconnection whereby the code input is printed at theprinter together with price information received from the memory unitwithout the necessity of additional circuitry for applying electricalcode impulses to the printer for printing thereof. The code inputkeyboard and printer are normally positioned at a point of handlingmaterials so that an operator will have ready access thereto fordepressing appropriate keys on the keyboard thereof corresponding tocode markings on individual items being handled, and also will haveready access to the printed record of the item code and correspondingprice. A further input unit provided for the circuit of this inventionis a price keyboard 57 which is normally physically located at somecontrol points, as for example, in the managers office of a retailoutlet. The price keyboard is adapted to be operated by the depressionof appropriate price keys whereby the keyboard produces an output signalcorresponding thereto and a price input matrix 58 receives such signalsand transforms the decimal system signals into a binary system ofsignals. Inasmuch as memory units of the type herein contemplatedconventionally operate upon a binary system, it is advantageous toemploy the binary system throughout the circuitry. Output signals fromthe price input matrix unit 58 are applied to the writing unit 52. Inthis illustrated embodiment only a single code input keyboard isillustrated and thus in operation of this circuit the item code would beapplied to the code input keyboard and the corresponding price appliedto the price keyboard. ln more extensive installations, a separate codeinput keyboard would normally be provided in physical juxtaposition withthe price keyboard for convenience of inserting information into thememory unit 51. The code input keyboard 54 is adapted to produceelectrical signals which may correspond to the keys depressed thereonand, in conformity with general cash register practices, a start buttonor count button may also be provided upon the code keyboard so thatfollowing the depression of ap propriate keys corresponding to the itemcode this start button is also depressed whereby the signalscorresponding to the depressed keys are produced as an output of thecode input keyboard. At item code matrix 61 of conventional matrixdesign is connected to the code input keyboard and serves to transformor convert the code signals into corresponding signals of a binarysystem. The item code matrix 61 may convert 24 input signals to some 25logic signals in the binary system and is connected to the writing unit52 and is also connected to control circuitry 59 which in turn connectsto the reading unit 53 associated with the memory drum. It is hereincontemplated that there shall be recorded upon the memory drum 51 itemcode signals and corresponding price signals and the control circuitry59 includes suitable coincident circuitry whereby a coin cidence betweenthe input item code and the item code produced by the reading unit 53will serve to pass price signals from the reading unit to a price outputmatrix 62. Thus, with the memory unit drum continuously rotating,signals are continuously being produced from the reading unit 53corresponding to item code signals recorded thereon. At the time thecode input keyboard SA is actuated and a particular item code istransmitted therefrom to the control circuitry 59, a comparison is madebetween the signals from the reading unit and input item code. At suchtime as the memory unit is so positioned that the reading unit producesthe item code which has been inserted on the code input keyboard 54,price signals also produced by the reading unit will be passed by thecontrol circuitry 59 to a price output matrix 62. This price outputmatrix 62 serves to convert the binary price signals to the decimalsystem so that the printer receives therefrom such signals as willactuate the printer to record as upon a tape the price corresponding tothe input item code. With the code input keyboard 54 and the printer 56being mechanically interconnected, the input item code is also providedto the printer 56 so that the latter unit prints the item code and thecorresponding price as received from the memory unit. As regards theinsertion of information into the memory unit, both the code inputkeyboard 54 and the price keyboard 57 are utilized. With an item codeinserted in the code input keyboard and with a corresponding priceapplied to the price keyboard, the start button is depressed at the codekeyboard so that the control circuitry 59 searches for this item codeupon the memory unit. Failure to find the item code will cause both theitem code and price to be applied to an empty portion of the memoryunit. Finding of the code causes a signal to be applied to the controlcircuitry which, in turn, produces a signal which is applied to acounter circuit 63 to thereby initiate the counting action therein.

Counting is continued for the number of rows upon the memory unitseparating the writing unit and the reading unit, and upon thecompletion of this count there is produced a command signal from thecounter 63. This command signal serves to actuate the writing unit sothat code input signals applied thereto and price input signals appliedthereto will be impressed upon the memory unit. Suitable means are alsoprovided for printing this input item code and the corresponding priceas a check against the proper insertion thereof upon the memory unit.

Insofar as certain of the circuits illustrated in FIG. 3 are concerned,same are quite conventional and may be readily purchased on thecommercial market. Thus the keyboard units and printer are not unique tothe present circuit. Likewise, the item matrix, price output matrix andprice input matrix are only particular applications of well known matrixcircuitry. The actual number of units employed in each of theillustrated matrixes depends upon the number of characters in the codeemployed and the number of decimal units afforded in the price portionof the invention. The item code matrix, for example, may in the instancewherein a 24 character code is employed, be formed in five sections witheach including some diodes connected in relatively conventional fashionso as to produce binary signals in one or the other of each conductor ofsome five pairs thereof upon the receipt of signals in the input codesystem. Both the price output matrix and the price input matrix may alsobe conventionally designed in accordance with well known matrixprinciples as by the utilization of some 40 diodes in each sectionthereof. It will be appreciated further that the block diagram of FIG. 3is somewhat simplified insofar as the connections are shown, inasmuch asin general only single lines are therein employed to illustrateelectrical connections. This type of illustration is not in tended toconvey the impression that single electrical conductors are utilized inthe connections illustrated. A more complete and detailed description ofthe circuitry of FIG. 3 may be found in FIG. 4, and a brief descriptionthereof follows.

There is illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, certain of the circuitryincluded in the block diagram of FIG. 3, described above, and inparticular the control circuitry thereof. The circuit illustrated inFIG. 4 is limited to a single code input keyboard and price outputprinter in order to simplify the circuit description and also variousother minor simplifying designs are incorporated wherein onlyconventional circuitry is involved in order to further clarify theexplanation. Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a conventionalmagnetic memory drum 51 having a writing unit 52 and a reading unit 53associated therewith. As above noted, there is included in this circuitbut a single code input keyboard 54 and a single printer 56. As in FIG.3 described above, there is also provided a single price input keyboard57 connected through a price input matrix 58 to the writing unit 52 ofthe memory drum. Both the code input keyboard 54 and the printer 56 aredirectly connected to matrix circuit 61 and 62, respectively. All of thematrix circuits illustrated in block form in FIGS. 3 and 4 are quiteconventional in design and are provided for the purpose of conversionfrom and to a binary system which is employed on the memory drum 51. Inthe circuit illustrated in FIG. 4 there are employed a plurality ofdirect-coupled multivibrator circuits with two conditions of stableequilibrium, commonly termed flip-flop circuits, and a plurality ofconventional gate circuits. Concerning the operation of conventionalflip-flop circuits as herein employed, it is noted that such circuits ordevices have two stable states commonly denominated as set" and reset."The circuits or devices are provided with a pair of set terminals and apair of reset terminals and the application of a pulse to the set inputterminal will produce a steady signal from the set output terminal whilean input pulse at the reset input will reverse this condition so thatthe output from the set output terminal will disappear and asteady-state signal will be supplied from the reset output terminal. Thegate circuits herein employed are of two conventional types commonlydenominated as AND gates and OR" gates. The AND gate circuits have aplurality of inputs thereto and operate to produce an output signal onlyupon the simultaneous application of input signals to each of the inputterminals thereof. The OR gates, or gate circuits, operate to passpulses that arrive at any of their inputs, and none of theabove-described three elements or circuits pass signals in the reversedirection. By the utilization of these simple basic circuit elements ordevices it is possible to produce a relatively inexpensive and compactoverall circuitry, particularly when the circuits or elements describedabove are formed with transistors. The flip-flop circuits and gatecircuits employed in the overall circuitry hereof are commerciallyavailable, and furthermore, suitable conventional amplifiers may beinserted at such points in the circuit as may be desired for optimumoperation thereof under particular circumstances. These amplifiers areherein excluded from the illustration in order to reduce the complexityof the drawing and to further promote the under standing thereof.

The writing unit 52 associated with the magnetic drum 51 includes aplurality of conventional writing heads 71 which may, for example beseparated some 180 about the periphery of the drum from a plurality ofreading heads 72 forming the reading unit 53. As above noted, themagnetic memory drum is conventionally constituted in containing aplurality of circumferential columns on which information may bemagnetically recorded and also including a plurality of longitudinalrows including the individual portions of such columns and along whichthere is recorded correspond ing information, in this case both code andprice information. In addition to the plurality of reading heads 72provided for the purpose of producing electrical indications ofinformation recorded upon the memory drum, there is provided a turnindicator head 72 producing an output pulse for each complete revolutionof the drum and a row indicator head 72 producing an output pulse foreach row of the drum passing thereover during drum rotation. All of thereading heads are physically identical; however, the particular purposefor which the turn indicating head and the row indicating head areherein employed differs to such an extent from the purpose of theremaining multiplicity of reading heads that same are separatelyidentified. As above noted, information is recorded upon the magneticdrum in a binary system with the matrices 58, 61, and 62 being providedfor conversion between such systems and both code and decimal pricesystems employed at the keyboard and printer. Each of the reading heads72 is adapted to produce signals corresponding either to the one or zerounits of the binary system employed to record information upon themagnetic drum 51. The connection of each of the reading heads isidentical, and considering a single head, same will be seen to beconnected to three AND gate circuits 74, 76 and 77 through a suitableamplifier, not shown. The one signal lead from the reading headamplifier is connected to one of the inputs of each of the AND gatecircuits 74 14 and 77, while the zero signal lead from the reading headamplifier is connected to an input of the AND gate circuit 76.Additional input signals are provided to the AND gate circuits 74 and 76from the item code matrix 61. The item code matrix 61 may comprise aconventional five element matrix converting such as a 24 character codeinto a binary code. The item code keyboard 54 may include a mechanicalregister which stores the item code up to five successive keydepressions, in a conventional manner, and information may betransmitted from the code input keyboard to the item code matrix bymeans of aplurality of conductors,

such as for example, five groups of 24 conductors each.

Only two conductors 78 and 79 are illustrated as extending from the itemcode matrix to the writing and reading heads although the remainder ofthe item code matrixoutput conductors also extend to separate writingand reading heads of the memory unit in pairs. With a binary system, thetwo leads 78 and 79 are sufficient to carry a one and a zero signalindication for one digit of the binary system employed in the memoryunit. Connection is made from the conductor 78 to an input of the ANDgate 74 and from the conductor 79 to an input of the AND gate 76. In theinstance wherein a one signal is transmitted from the item code matrix61 through the conductors 78, such signal will be'applied as an input tothe AND gate circuit 74 so that upon a coincident signal in the oneconductorextending from the reading head to this gate circuit there willbe produced an output from the AND gate circuit 74. The output from eachof the AND gate circuits 74, 76, and 77 are connected to the input of anOR gate circuit 81, so that in the above-described example the output ofthe AND gate circuits 74 will pass through this OR gate circuit 81 andthence on to one input of an AND gate circuit 82. in the instancewherein the magnetic memory drum 51 is provided with 25 item codereading heads, in accordance with the previously suggested example,there may be provided a single AND gate circuit having twenty-fiveinputs or two other AND gate circuits 83 and 84 with the outputs of eachof these circuits being connected to the input of another AND gatecircuit 86. In this instance each of the three AND gate circuits 82, 83,and 84 is provided with a plurality of input connections, each connectedin the manner described above for the first reading head of the itemcode portion of the magnetic drum. The passage of a signal through theabove-described circuit including the AND gate circuits 74, 76, and 77and the OR gate circuit 81 from the reading head 72 corresponds to acoincidence of the signal from this reading head and that called for bythe first channel of the item code matrix 61. At the point of rotationupon the memory drum wherein a similar coincidence occurs on all 25 itemcode reading heads, compared with all of the 25 output channels of theitem code matrix, there will be present an input signal at each of theinputs of the three AND gate circuits 82, 83, and 84 so that there willthen be produced a coincidence of input signals to the AND gate circuit86. The output from the AND gate circuit 86 resulting from theabove-noted coincidence of input and recorded code signals is applied toa line or conductor 87 for operation of further portions of thecircuitry described below. As regards the other AND gate circuits 76 and77 connected to the first item code reading head, the AND gate 76functions in a manner similar to the circuit 74 providing same isreceiving a signal from a conductor 88, as described below. AND gatecircuit 77, however is connected between one of the reading head leadsand a conductor 89 so as to operate only during writing operations, alsodescribed below.

The signal upon line 87 resulting from a coincidence between the codesignal supplied by the item code matrix and the code signals upon thememory drum 51 is employed to control the signals applied to the printer56 relating to price information corresponding to the code inserted uponthe code input keyboard 54. In the example wherein twelve columns ofinformation are provided for upon the magnetic memory drum to recordprice information, there are provided some twelve price reading heads72, and as shown in FIG. 4, connection is made from each of these headsto a pair of AND gate circuits 91 and 92 which have the other inputsthereof connected to a conductor 93. In the instance wherein a signal ispresent upon the conductor 93, the AND gates 91 and 92 will successivelyconduct in accordance with the signals received from the reading headand pass signals to the set and reset input terminals respectively of aflip-flop circuit 94. The set and reset output terminals of theflip-flop circuit 94 are connected to the input of the price outputmatrix 62. Control of the recording of price information received fromthe price reading heads is afforded by the provision of a flip-flopcircuit 96 having a set input terminal connected to the of an AND gatecircuit 97, with one input thereof being connected to the conductor 87.The other input of the gate circuit 97 is connected to a conductor 98leading to certain circuitry described below. Another AND gate circuit99 is provided with one input thereof connected to the conductor 87 fromthe code reading heads and with the other inputs connected to aconductor 101, also extending from circuitry later to be described. Theoutput of this latter gate circuit 99 is connected to the movablecontact of a switch 102. This switch is provided with stationary writeand read contacts, with the read contact being connected to the inputset terminal of the flip-flop circuit 96. With the reset input terminalof the flip-flop circuit 96 connected to a reset terminal of the printer56 and, furthermore, with the set output terminal of the flop-flopcircuit 96 connected to a print terminal of the printer 56, it will beseen that the simultaneous presence of signals upon the conductors 87and 101 will operate to actuate the flip-flop circuit 96 into conductionthrough the set portion thereof whereby the printer is signalled torecord and print input signals thereto while at the same time theconductor 93 is deenergized so that the flip-flop circuit 94 remains ineither set or reset position last attained. The set output of flip-flop97 may be connected also to a gate circuit 100 at the price outputmatrix 62 to cause price signals to be passed to the printer 56, or acomparable function may be accomplished in the printer.

As above noted, the circuit hereof is adapted to provide for theprinting of price information corresponding to code information insertedin the circuitry and also to provide for the writing of correspondinginformation upon the memory drum 51 of the circuit. Means are providedfor controlling the particular operation which is carried out by thecircuit hereof, and such means includes an addition to the above-notedswitch 102, the switches 103 and 104. Each of these latter namedswitches has both read and write stationary contacts thereon with amovable contact adapted for engagement with one or the other thereof andin a mac ticable embodiment of the illustrated circuit these threeswitches 102, 103, and 104 may, in fact, be physically combined so thata single operation will service to actuate each of the switches. Furtherto the control of the operations performed by the above-describedcircuit, there are provided five flip-flop circuits 106, 107, 108, 109,and 110. A start button 111 is connected to the positive terminal of agrounded power supply 112 and also coupled through a capacitor 113, thatis shunted to ground through a resistor 114, to the set input terminalof the flip-flop circuit 106. Thus, upon actuation of the start button111 a positive voltage signal will be applied to the set input terminalof this flip-flop terminal 106 to thereby produce an output from the setportion thereof. Such set output terminal of the flip-flop circuit 106is connected to the input of an AND gate circuit 116, with another inputthereto being connected from the reading head 72'. The output of thisAND gate circuit 116 is connected to the input set terminal of theflip-flop circuit 107 and the output set terminal thereof is connectedto another AND gate circuit 117. The output of this AND gate circuit 117is connected to the movable contact of the switch 103 which has the readcontact thereof connected to a common conductor 118 joining together theinput reset terminals of the flip-flop circuits 106, 107, 109, and 110.This conductor 118 is also connected through a capacitory 119 and aswitch 120 to the positive terminal of a grounded power supply 121. Itwill be seen that by this connection of the common reset conductor 118through the switch 120 to the power supply 121, closure of the switch120 will serve to apply a voltage signal to the flip-flop circuits 106,107, 109 and to place each of these circuits in its reset position. Theswitch 103 has the stationary write contact thereof connected to oneinput of an AND gate circuit 122, the other input thereof beingconnected to the reset output terminal of the flip-flop circuit 109. Theoutput of the AND gate circuit 122 is connected to the set inputterminal of the flip-flop circuit 108. The set and reset outputterminals of this flip-flop circuit 108 are connected to the above-notedconductors 89 and 88, respectively. As regards the flip-flop circuit 109the set input terminal thereof is connected to the reset input tenninalof the flip-flop circuit 108 and also to the stationary write terminalof the above-noted switch 104. The set output terminal of this flip-flopcircuit 109 is connected to one of the inputs of an AND gate circuit123. Another AND gate circuit 124 is connected with one input thereofcoupled to the conductor 89 extending from the set output terminal ofthe flip-flop circuit 108 and the other input terminal thereof connectedtogether with an input terminal of the AND gate circuit 123 and an inputterminal of the above-noted AND gate circuit 117 to the reading head 72.The outputs of each of the AND gate circuits 123 and 124 are connectedto inputs of an OR gate circuit 126 having the output thereof connectedto the set input terminal of the flip-flop circuit 110. The set outputterminal of this flip-flop circuit 110 is connected to the conductor 98and also to an input of another AND gate circuit 127. The other input ofthe AND gate circuit 127 is connected together with inputs of the otherAND gate circuits to the reading head 72' while the output of this ANDgate circuit 127 is connected to the common reset conductor 1 18. Itwill be appreciated from the circuitry of FIG. 4 described above thatcertain reset output terminals of the flop-flop circuits describedremain unconnected, and it will be appreciated that when these circuitsare then in the reset condition there is provided no output signaltherefrom.

One further portion of the circuit illustrated in FIG. 4 which has notpreviously been fully discussed as to connections thereof, is thecounter 63. Inasmuch as the reading and writing heads of the memory unitare physically separated above the circumference of the drum 51, it isnecessary to provide for a predetermined delay before the application ofinformation to the drum at a position indicated by the reading headswhen same are employed in searching for such a code existing upon thedrum. This function is carried out by the counter 63 and same isconnected at an input terminal thereof to the reading head 72" whichprovides one output pulse for each row of the drum as same passesthereover. The counter 63 is adapted to count these pulses and toproduce at an output terminal thereof a signal after the counting ofsuch predetermined number of rows as separate the reading and writingheads. This output signal is applied to a command conductor 131 which isconnected to the writing unit 52 and serves to actuate same so thatintelligence signals applied to the individual writing heads 71 thereofwill be transferred to the memory drum. A start signal is applied to thecounter 63 from the write terminal of the switch 102 so that upon thereceipt of a start signal from such switch the counter will commence tocount input signals received from the reading head 72" until apredetermined number thereof have been counted corresponding to thenumber of rows separating the reading and writing heads, whereuponthe'counter 63 will produce an output signal employed as a commandsignal for the write unit 52. This command signal is also applied to astop terminal of the counter so that the counting procedure ceases uponthe production of such output signal and does not recommence until a newstart signal is received. THe write unit 52 includes, as noted above, aplurality of writing heads 71 corresponding in number and position tothe reading heads 72. Each of these writing heads is preferably providedwith an appropriate amplifier 132 which has the command conductor 131from the counter 63 connected thereto and which also operates to producean output signal only upon the receipt of a command signal thereto. Thewriting heads 71 situated to provide item code information to the memorydrum are each connected to the item code matrix, as indicated by theconnection of conductors 78. and 79 to the first writing head 71.Likewise, each of the writing heads 71 corresponding to the pricereading heads are connected by a pair of conductors to the price inputmatrix 38, as exemplified by the conductors 133 extending from the lastwriting head to the price input matrix.

It is herein contemplated that the circuit shall initially be placed inreset condition, i.e., each of the flipflop circuits of the overallcircuit shall originally be placed in the reset condition. The switch120, noted above, will be seen to serve to provide a signal to thecommon reset terminal conductor 118 which thereby applies a signal tothe input reset terminals of the flipflop circuits 106, 107, 109 and110, so that these circuits are in the reset condition. Provision isalso made for initially establishing a reset condition of the flip-flopcircuit 96 employed to control the printing operation and such provisionmay take the form of a switch 134 connected to the reset input terminalof the flip-flop circuit 96 in conjunction with the circuit like thatassociated with the switch 120. As regards the initial setup of theoverall circuitry, it is noted that the flopflop circuits 94 associatedone with each reading head, need not be in either set or resetcondition, and likewise the flip-flop circuit 108 is controlled as toits original set or reset condition by means other than the switch 120,as described in more detail below.

Considering now the operation of the circuit of the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, it is first assumed that the codeand price information have been recorded on the drum 51 and that same isbeing rotated by integral drive means, not shown. The flip-flip circuitsare initially maintained in a reset condition by depression of the pushbutton switches and 134, as noted above. The reading heads 72 pick upsignals from corresponding tracks from the drum and produce outputsignals therefrom. These reading head signals may be considered aslogical ones or logical zeros corresponding to positively or negativelymagnetized portions of the tracks on the memory drum and representingthe two units of the binary system. The output signals from each of the25 item code reading heads are applied to three AND gate circuits areexemplified by the three AND gate circuits 82, 83, and 84, and theoutput signals from the price reading heads are applied to pairs of ANDgate circuits as exemplified by the gate circuits 91 and 92 in thedrawings. A single code-price operation is accomplished by depression ofkeys on the code input keyboard 54 which stores the item code in thesame manner as a ten-key adding machine stores information. With a 24character code wherein each code word contains five symbols, fivesuccessive key depressions are made on the code input keyboard for asingle entry and corresponding signals are applied to the item codematrix 61 which operates to convert the 24 character code into a binarycode. Considering only the first reading head as exemplary of theoperation of each of the reading heads and circuits associatedtherewith, assume that the code matrix calls for a logical one on thechannel corresponding to the track read by the first reading head 72. Inthis circumstance there is provided a signal on the conductor 78 whichwill be seen to be applied to one input of the AND gate circuit 74 sothat on the reading of a logical one by the reading head 72 there willbe applied two coincident input signals to the AND gate circuit 74, sothat a signal is passed therethrough to the OR gate circuit 81. Thissignal is then passed through such gate circuit and is applied to one ofthe inputs of the AND gate circuit 82. If coincident signals arereceived at the gate circuits associated with each of the item codereading heads, there will be applied to the three AND gate circuits 82,

83, and 84 simultaneous signals at each of the inputs thereof wherebythe signal will be passed through each of these gate circuits tocomprise coincident input signals to the AND gate circuit 86. Such acondition produces an output signal from the AND gate circuit 86 tothereby energize the conductor 87. During the time in which theforegoing occurs, each of the price reading heads produces outputsignals so that an input is applied to each of the AND gate circuitsassociated with each of such reading heads. The flip-flop circuit 96 isat this time maintained in a reset condition so that an output signal isapplied to the conductor 93 forming the other input signal of each ofthese AND gate circuits. As regards the last piece reading headillustrated, the AND gate circuits 91 and 92 associated therewith passsignals therethrough in response to the coincident input signals theretoso that the flip-flop circuit 94 connected to these gate circuitsconducts through the set and reset portions thereof. In the absence of asignal on the conductor 87 the flip-flop circuit 96 is maintained in areset condition so that each pulse from the price reading head sets orresets the flip-flop circuit associated therewith; however, when acoincident pulse appears on the conductor 87, in the manner abovedescribed, the condition is altered. The energization of the conductor87 in response to an identity between an input code and the recordedcode on the memory drum serves to apply a signal to the set inputterminal of the flip-flop 96, in a condition wherein the switch 102 ismaintained in the read position, so that the reset signal therefromdisappears and the AND gate circuits 91 and 92 of the price reading headfail to produce an output therefrom. Consequently, the price flip-flopcircuit 94 remains in the last conducting state and a signal from theset portion of the flip-flop circuit 96 is applied as a print signal tothe printer 56. The last retained price indication is therefore passedthrough the price output matrix wherein it is converted to a decimalsystem from the binary code employed in the memory unit and is appliedto the printer 56 wherein the price information is recorded. It is notedthat the signal from the conductor 87 is applied to the flip-flop 96through the switch 102 and also through the AND gate circuit 99, so thatit is necessary for the conductor 101 to be energized for this conditionto occur. Upon the recording of price information at the printer 56,this printing unit produces a reset signal which is applied to theflip-flop circuit 96 to return same to a reset condition so that thecircuit is again in condition for receiving further coded input andprice information output.

The foregoing operation will be seen to be controlled by the switches102, 103 and 104 as well as the flip-flop circuits of the overallcircuit. It is assumed in this condition that each of the above-notedswitches is positioned in the read position and, furthermore, that thestart button 111 is depressed to initially place the flipflop circuit106 in a set condition. An output signal from the set portion of theflip-flop circuit 106 is applied as an input to the AND gate circuit116, and the other input thereof is received from the reading head 72producing one pulse per turn of the magnetic memory drum. At such timeas this pulse is received from the reading head 72' the AND gate circuit116 will be open to pass a signal therethrough to the flip flop circuit107 whereby this flip-flop circuit is switched to the set position. Asthe output of the set portion of the flip-flop circuit 107 is connectedto the conductor 101, this latter conductor is then energized so thatupon energization of the conductor 87 by coincident signals at theflip-flop circuit 86 from the item code reading heads, the AND gatecircuit 99 is opened to pass a signal therethrough as required above.After the completion of one revolution of the memory drum, a secondpulse is produced from the reading head 72' which will be seen to beapplied to the AND gate circuit 117 having the other input thereofconnected to the set output of the flip-flop circuit 107 so that thisgate circuit is opened to pass a signal therethrough. With the switch103 in the read position, as indicated in the drawings, this signal fromthe gate circuit 117 is then applied to the common reset line 118 sothat the flip-flop circuits 106 and 107 are returned to the resetposition. It will be appreciated that the start button 1 11 is normallyphysically positioned in juxtaposition with the code input keyboard sothat in a conventional manner the code markings may be provided theretoby depressing particular keys upon such keyboard and the start switchdepressed at the end of each code entry, as in a conventional cashregister. A mechanical connection may be provided between the code inputkeyboard 54 and the printer 56 in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention in order that the printer 56 will not only provide a printedrecord of the price information supplied thereto but will also at thesame time provide a printed record of the particular code with which theprice information corresponds.

The operation of the flip-flop circuits 106 to 110 requires a slighttime delay between the output of the set portion thereof and the receiptof the pulse from the reading head 72' and it is herein assumed thatthis time delay is afforded by the time required for the flip-flopcircuits to change from reset to set position. If this time delay isfound to be insufficient with the particular flipflop circuits employed,then suitable time delay means should be inserted in the set output ofthe flip-flop circuits.

The insertion of either price or code and price information upon thememory drum 51 is accomplished with the code input keyboard 54 and theprice input keyboard 57. The Writing heads 71 of the writing unit 52 arepermanently associated with the memory drum 51, and the item codewriting heads are connected through their respective amplifiers to theitem code matrix 61, as illustrated by the conductors 78 and 79 in FIG.4. Likewise, the price writing heads are connected at all times throughthe amplifiers thereof to the price input matrix 58, as exemplified bythe conductors 133 in FIG. 4. These writing heads 71 are not energizeduntil a command signal is applied to the respective amplifiers thereofthrough the conductor 131 from the counter 63. When this command pulseis received from the counter 63 the amplifier 132 operate to amplify andpass information received thereto from the item code matrix and priceinput matrix so as to thereby record such information upon the magneticmemory drum. In the drum herein employed, it is not necessary to eraseinformation previously recorded thereon, for the writing heads willremagnetize the memory drum in accordance with the latest receivedsignal. In order that an open longitudinal row on the memory drum may be21 readily identified for the insertion of new code and priceinformation, all rows of the drum are initially recorded with continuouslogical ones so that an unused row can therefore be found by searchingfor an item code consisting of all ones.

The insertion of a new code and corresponding price information upon themagnetic memory drum 51 is accomplished by placing each of the switches102, 103, and 104 in the write position and then depressing appropriatekeys on the code input keyboard 54 and the price keyboard 57 followed bydepression of the start button 111. The signal applied to the flip-flopcircuit 106 will place the same in the set condition so that thereisapplied an input signal to the AND gate circuit 1 16 and the nextpulse received from the reading head 72' will, upon application to thisAND gate circuit 1 16, open same to thereby provide a signal placing theflipflop circuit 107 in the set position. During the revolutionfollowing the output pulse from the reading head 72' the memory drumwill be searched for the item code inserted by the code input keyboardand, assuming that this code has not previously been recorded upon thedrum, no signal will be received to energize the conductor 87 as aresult of this searching during one complete revolution. A second pulseis then received from the reading head 72' which will be ap plied to theAND gate circuit 117, together with the set pulse .from the flop-flopcircuit 107 so as to open this gate and apply a signal through theswitch 103 to one input of the AND gate circuit 122. As the other inputof this AND gate circuit122 is connected to the reset output of theflip-flop 109, the AND gate circuit 122 is thereby opened to pass apulse to the flip-flop circuit 108 and place same in the set positionwhereby the conductor 89 is energized. The conductor 88 issimultaneously de-energized, inasmuch as no output signal is receivedfrom the reset of flip-flop 108, and consequently one input signal isapplied to the AND gate 77 in the item code reading head circuit whilethe previously available signal is removed from the AND gate circuit 76.Inasmuch as the other input of the other AND gate circuit 77 isconnected to the logical one" output of the reading head, each of thereading heads will pass signals through their corresponding gatecircuits only upon the coincident encounter of logical ones at each ofthe reading heads simultaneously so that the gate circuits 82, 83, and84 are energized only in this condition to thereby open the gate 86 andenergize the conductor 87. The system will be seen therefore to ignorethe code inserted therein at the code input keyboard 54 while searchingfor a row upon the magnetic memory drum which has only logical onesrecorded thereon and which, consequently, is an open row available forthe insertion of code and price information. During this latterrevolution of the memory drum wherein the circuit is searching for a rowthereon having only logical ones" recorded thereon, the conductor 101 isenergized from the set position of the flipflop circuit 107 so that uponthe energization of the conductor 87 in response to the finding of sucha row, the gate circuit 99 will be opened to pass a signal therethrough.With the switch 102 in the write position, the signal passed by the ANDgate circuit 99 will then be applied to an input of the counter circuit63. As described above, this start signal applied to the counter 63 willcommence such counter to counting the pulses received from the readinghead 72"; As one pulse per row is produced by the'reading head 72" thenumber of rows will be counted following the receipt of a start signalat the counter. The counter 63 is previously set to produce an outputsignal following the counting of a predetermined number of rowscorresponding to the separation between the reading heads 72 and thewriting heads 71. This output signal from the counter 63 forms thecommand signal on the conductor 131 whereby the amplifiers 132 of thewrite unit 52 are energized. As the writing heads 71 are in receipt ofsignals from the item code matrix and price input matrix, the commandsignal received by energization of the conductor 131 from the counter 63serves to cause these amplifiers to apply the price and code informationto the writing heads 71 whereupon same record the information upon thememory drum. The pulse received on the line 87 from the row of logicalones" is applied through the switch 104 to the flip-flop circuits 108and 109 to reset the former and set the latter. As the flip-flop circuit108 is changed to reset condition the conductor 88 is energized and theconductor 89 is de-energized so that the gate circuit 77 is closed andthe gate circuit 76 is provided with one input signal for possibleconduction in accordance with the presence of other input signalsthereto, as described below. The reading heads will then be seen to berestored to such condition that they again search for the item code setup on the item code keyboard. The output of flip-flop circuit 109 fromthe set portion thereof is applied to the AND gate circuit 123 so thatupon the receipt of a pulse from the reading head 72 this gate circuit123 willpass a signal through the OR gate circuit 126 to set theflip-flop circuit 1 10. The gate 97 is connected to the flip-flopcircuit at the set output terminal there of that this gate circuit 97 isopened by the simultaneous application thereto of the signal from theconductor 87 and from the flip-flop circuit 110 to thereby place theflip-flop circuit 96 in the set condition and record upon the printer 56the information just recorded upon the memory drum. This operation willbe seen to serve as a check on the recorded information. Following onerevolution, the

reading head 72' will produce another output pulse which will be appliedto the input of the AND gate circuit 127 so that together with thesignal applied from the set output of the flip-flop 110 this circuitwill conduct to thereby energize the reset conductor 118 and reset theflip-flop circuits. The overall circuit is then in condition for thenext start signal.

Another operation which the circuit hereof is adapted to carry out isthe changing of the price information upon the magnetic memory drumcorresponding to a particular item code already recorded thereon. Inthis condition, operation commences in the same manner as discussedabove; however, during the first revolution after the flip-flop circuit107 is placed in the set condition, the search for the item code will besuccessful so that an output signal appears on the conductor 87. Thecounter 63 is then started and proceeds in the manner described above toproduce a command signal whereby the writing unit 52 operates to recordboth the item code and new price information upon the memory drum.Inasmuch as the item code is the same as that already existing upon thememory drum at the particular position chosen for the insertion of a newprice information, no actual change is made in the item code upon thememory drum, although the price information corresponding thereto ischanged by the recording. The coincident pulse occuring on the conductor87 is transmitted through the switch 104 to set the flip-fiop circuit109 and reset the flip-flop circuit 108. By the removal of a signal fromthe reset output of the flip-flop circuit 109, one of the input signalsto the gate circuit 122 is removed, so that this gate circuit is opened.Consequently, at the end of one revolution the pulse received from thereading head 72' will not be able to pass through this gate 122 andtherefore cannot set the flip-flop circuit 108 so that this circuitremains in the reset condition. The pulse from reading head 72' will,however, operate in conjunction with the output of the set portion offlip-flop circuit 109, open gate 123 to pass a signal through the lowergate circuit 126 to set the flop-flop circuit 110 whereby the conductor98 is energized so that the newly recorded information will be printedat the printer 56 in accordance with the above-described operation.

From the foregoing brief description of the simplified circuitillustrated in FIG. 4, it is believed evident that the present inventionis highly adapted to the automatic production of printed records of codeand price information so as to materially simplify handling operations.The degree of flexibility afforded by the circuit hereof, even in thesimplified form illustrated, substantially enhances the applicabilitythereof. Information recorded upon the magnetic memory drum of thepresent invention is at all times available for review and use and,furthermore, such information is quite readily changed by a simplekeyboard operation. Rapid and ready changes in price informationrelating to particular item codes serve to make the invention hereofhighly suited to circumstances wherein price variations may beencountered.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in connection withparticular examples of utility thereof and in regard to certain specificsteps and embodiments of the invention, it is to be appreciated thatsubstantial variations therein are possible within the proper scope ofthe present invention. Thus, other information besides price informationmay be recorded upon the memory unit of the invention so that there isproduced in addition to item code markings at the printer thereof someother related information of particular interest to those handlingmaterials.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for handling articles subject to differences from oneanother and each bearing a labeling of significant coded indicia uniqueto the particular article and wherein said indicia normally is appliedto the article prior to its distribution and offer for sale and whereonly identical items bear like indicia adequate for subsequent pricedetermination and inventory representation which comprises a computerand memory means;

means to record the indicia of each article in the computer and memoryprior to display for sale and there storing such information forselected time periods;

means to record price information for each different coded indicia inthe computer and memory means in predetermined relation to thecorresponding stored coded indicia;

means for maintaining the price information in the memory and computerfor selected time periods in a state subject to substantiallyinstantaneous change relative to any coded indicia on each article;

means to register the coded indicia of each article as actually acceptedby a buyer for purchase into the memory and computer system at adistribution point of the coded items;

means responsive to said coded indicia as registered in the computer andmemory at the time of activation of the register means and to the codedindicia of each item stored in the computer and memory means forimmediate comparison between each; means to prepare from the storedprice information of said memory and computer system and the comparisonof stored coded indicia and the information supplied relative to codedindicia at the time of sale a visible record relating the coded indiciaof the selected and previously stored price information of each itemidentified to the memory and computer system at the distribution pointthereby to provide an immediately available visible sales record foritems distributed, free from any need for price marking on theindividual articles and to maintain automatically an inventory record.

2. A circuit for automatically producing a visual indication of theprices of items handled and including a memory unit having writing headsand reading heads associated therewith for the recording of informationthereon and reading of such information, a code keyboard adapted foractuation to produce signals corresponding to item codes of items beinghandled, an item code matrix connected to said code keyboard andproducing signals responsive thereto in the binary system, meansconnecting said item code matrix to the writing heads of said memoryunit, a control circuit receiving signals from said item code matrix andcomparing same through said reading heads with item codes retained bysaid memory unit to produce output signals from said reading headscorresponding to prices associated with individual item codes asrecorded upon said memory unit, a price output matrix receiving pricesignals from said control circuit and converting same into the decimalsystem, a printing unit linked to said code keyboard and receivingsignals from said price output matrix for producing a record of itemcodes and corresponding prices, and means connecting said controlcircuit to the writing heads of said memory unit for energizing same tooperate in accordance with signals received from said code matrix.

3. A circuit as set out in claim 2 further characterized by a pricekeyboard adapted for operation in conjunction with said code keyboard toapply item codes and corresponding prices to said memory unit throughthe writing heads thereof, said price keyboard producing signalscorresponding to price markings applied thereto, a price input matrixreceiving signals from said price keyboard and converting same to thebinary system for application to writing heads of said memory unit, andcounting means connected between said control circuit and said writingheads for applying a command signal to said writing heads to actuatesame whereby item code and price information is applied to said memoryunit.

4. An automatic pricing circuit comprising an item code keyboard adaptedfor actuation to produce signals representative of code markings uponitems being priced, a printing unit connected to said item code keyboardfor producing a printed record of item codes and corresponding prices-inresponse to signals applied thereto, a memory unit including a rotaryelectromagnetic memory drum having a plurality of writing heads alignedlongitudinally thereof and a plurality of reading heads also alignedlongitudinally thereof in circumferentially displaced relationship fromsaid writing head, a first matrix circuit connected to said item codekeyboard and producing from signals received from said item codekeyboard output signals in the binary system, a plurality of coincidencecircuit connected one to each of the reading heads adapted to reproduceitem code signals from said memory drum, means connecting said firstmatrix to said coincidence circuit, whereby an output signal is producedat a point of coincidence between an input item code and code markingsignals at a particular point upon said drum, further coincidencecircuits connected to reading heads producing price signals andoperating in response to the aforesaid coincidence signal to produce aprice out put signal in response to an identity between the input codesignal and a like signal recorded on said magnetic drum, and meansapplying said price signals to said printing means for producing arecord of corresponding item codes and price signals so passed by saidlatter coincidence means. 1

5. A circuit as defined in claim 4 further characterized by a readinghead producing one signal from each longitudinal row of the magneticdrum, as some rotates therepast, a counter circuit operating to producean output signal following a predetermined number of counts, meansconnecting said item code reading head coincidence circuit to saidcounter for initiating operation thereof, means connecting said counterto said writing heads for energizing same, and means applying pricesignals to said writing head whereby price information is applied tosaidmemory drum through said writing head in correspondence to item codesignals supplied to said memory drum.

6. An automatic item and price register adapted for use with coded itemscomprising item code input means supplying electrical signals indicativeof item codes, a memory unit adapted to receive and retain item codemarkings and price information corresponding thereto and including itemcode reading means and price reading means scanning said unit, meansproducing a signal for each complete scan of information in said memoryunit, the scanning means for said memory unit including a plurality ofelements scanning limited portions of said memory unit, a coincidencecircuit including three AND gate circuits associated with each of saidscanning elements, means connecting each of said scanning elements tothe inputs of each of said AND gate circuits, means connecting said itemcode input means to the inputs of the first and second of each of saidthree AND gate circuits, a flip-flop circuit normally retain ed in a res et co dition and ,congected to power supp y means roug a start switchor energization to a set position thereby, and AND gate circuits havingthe inputs thereof connected to the set position of said flip-flopcircuit and to the scan reading means to produce an output signal inresponse to a coincidence therebetween, a second flip-flop circuitnormally maintained in a reset condition and connected to the output ofsaid last stated AND gate circuit for switching to a set position, meansconnecting said second flip-flop circuit from the set position thereofto another AND gate circuit, means supplying another input of saidlatter AND gate circuit with a signal produced by a coincidence betweenan input item code signal and recorded item code signals on said memoryunit for opening said latter AND gate circuit, a bistable switchingcircuit normally maintained in a reset position and having connection tothe output of said latter AND gate circuit for switching to the setposition thereof upon the receipt of signals therefrom, a plurality ofcontrollable switches connected one to each of the price scanningelements, a printing unit adapted to produce a printed record of priceinformation supplied thereto, means connecting said' plurality ofcontrollable switches to said printing unit, and means connecting saidbistable switching circuit to control said plurality of price switcheswhereby said printing unit receives only such price signals ascorrespond to item code markings on said memory unit coincident withitem code signals applied to the system.

1. Apparatus for handling articles subject to differences from oneanother and each bearing a labeling of significant coded indicia uniqueto the particular article and wherein said indicia normally is appliedto the article prior to its distribution and offer for sale and whereonly identical items bear like indicia adequate for subsequent pricedetermination and inventory representation which comprises a computerand memory means; means to record the indicia of each article in thecomputer and memory prior to display for sale and there storing suchinformation for selected time periods; means to record price informationfor each different coded indicia in the computer and memory means inpredetermined relation to the corresponding stored coded indicia; meansfor maintaining the price information in the memory and computer forselected time periods in a state subject to substantially instantaneouschange relative to any coded indicia on each article; means to registerthe coded indicia of each article as actually accepted by a buyer forpurchase into the memory and computer system at a distribution point ofthe coded items; means responsive to said coded indicia as registered inthe computer and memory at the time of activation of the register meansand to the coded indicia of each item stored in the computer and memorymeans for immediate comparison between each; and means to prepare fromthe stored price information of said memory and computer system and thecomparison of stored coded indicia and the information supplied relativeto coded indicia at the time of sale a visible record relating the codedindicia of the selected and previously stored price information of eachitem identified to the memory and computer system at the distributionpoint thereby to provide an immediately available visible sales recordfor items distributed, free from any need for price marking on theindividual articles and to maintain automatically an inventory record.2. A circuit for automatically producing a visual indication of theprices of items handled and including a memory unit having writing headsand reading heads associated therewith for the recording of informationthereon and reading of such information, a code keyboard adapted foractuation to produce signals corresponding to item codes of items beinghandled, an item code matrix connected to said code keyboard andproducing signals responsive thereto in the binary system, meansconnecting said item code matrix to the writing heads of said memoryunit, a control circuit receiving signals from said item code matrix andcomparing same through said reading heads with item codes retained bysAid memory unit to produce output signals from said reading headscorresponding to prices associated with individual item codes asrecorded upon said memory unit, a price output matrix receiving pricesignals from said control circuit and converting same into the decimalsystem, a printing unit linked to said code keyboard and receivingsignals from said price output matrix for producing a record of itemcodes and corresponding prices, and means connecting said controlcircuit to the writing heads of said memory unit for energizing same tooperate in accordance with signals received from said code matrix.
 3. Acircuit as set out in claim 2 further characterized by a price keyboardadapted for operation in conjunction with said code keyboard to applyitem codes and corresponding prices to said memory unit through thewriting heads thereof, said price keyboard producing signalscorresponding to price markings applied thereto, a price input matrixreceiving signals from said price keyboard and converting same to thebinary system for application to writing heads of said memory unit, andcounting means connected between said control circuit and said writingheads for applying a command signal to said writing heads to actuatesame whereby item code and price information is applied to said memoryunit.
 4. An automatic pricing circuit comprising an item code keyboardadapted for actuation to produce signals representative of code markingsupon items being priced, a printing unit connected to said item codekeyboard for producing a printed record of item codes and correspondingprices in response to signals applied thereto, a memory unit including arotary electromagnetic memory drum having a plurality of writing headsaligned longitudinally thereof and a plurality of reading heads alsoaligned longitudinally thereof in circumferentially displacedrelationship from said writing head, a first matrix circuit connected tosaid item code keyboard and producing from signals received from saiditem code keyboard output signals in the binary system, a plurality ofcoincidence circuit connected one to each of the reading heads adaptedto reproduce item code signals from said memory drum, means connectingsaid first matrix to said coincidence circuit, whereby an output signalis produced at a point of coincidence between an input item code andcode marking signals at a particular point upon said drum, furthercoincidence circuits connected to reading heads producing price signalsand operating in response to the aforesaid coincidence signal to producea price output signal in response to an identity between the input codesignal and a like signal recorded on said magnetic drum, and meansapplying said price signals to said printing means for producing arecord of corresponding item codes and price signals so passed by saidlatter coincidence means.
 5. A circuit as defined in claim 4 furthercharacterized by a reading head producing one signal from eachlongitudinal row of the magnetic drum, as same rotates therepast, acounter circuit operating to produce an output signal following apredetermined number of counts, means connecting said item code readinghead coincidence circuit to said counter for initiating operationthereof, means connecting said counter to said writing heads forenergizing same, and means applying price signals to said writing headwhereby price information is applied to said memory drum through saidwriting head in correspondence to item code signals supplied to saidmemory drum.
 6. An automatic item and price register adapted for usewith coded items comprising item code input means supplying electricalsignals indicative of item codes, a memory unit adapted to receive andretain item code markings and price information corresponding theretoand including item code reading means and price reading means scanningsaid unit, means producing a signal for each complete scan ofinformation in said memory unit, the scanning means for said memory unitincluding a pluralitY of elements scanning limited portions of saidmemory unit, a coincidence circuit including three AND gate circuitsassociated with each of said scanning elements, means connecting each ofsaid scanning elements to the inputs of each of said AND gate circuits,means connecting said item code input means to the inputs of the firstand second of each of said three AND gate circuits, a flip-flop circuitnormally retained in a reset condition and connected to power supplymeans through a start switch for energization to a set position thereby,and AND gate circuits having the inputs thereof connected to the setposition of said flip-flop circuit and to the scan reading means toproduce an output signal in response to a coincidence therebetween, asecond flip-flop circuit normally maintained in a reset condition andconnected to the output of said last stated AND gate circuit forswitching to a set position, means connecting said second flip-flopcircuit from the set position thereof to another AND gate circuit, meanssupplying another input of said latter AND gate circuit with a signalproduced by a coincidence between an input item code signal and recordeditem code signals on said memory unit for opening said latter AND gatecircuit, a bistable switching circuit normally maintained in a resetposition and having connection to the output of said latter AND gatecircuit for switching to the set position thereof upon the receipt ofsignals therefrom, a plurality of controllable switches connected one toeach of the price scanning elements, a printing unit adapted to producea printed record of price information supplied thereto, means connectingsaid plurality of controllable switches to said printing unit, and meansconnecting said bistable switching circuit to control said plurality ofprice switches whereby said printing unit receives only such pricesignals as correspond to item code markings on said memory unitcoincident with item code signals applied to the system.